Odometer.



J. W. JONES.

ODOMBTER.

APPLIOATIOK rum: 00-1. 4, 190:

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. W. JONES.

ODOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1909.

Patented 061;. 17, 1911.

a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. "W. JONES.

ODOMBTEB.

APPLKOATIOH run 001'. 4, 1809.

1,005,845. i Patented Oct. mi 1911.

0 3% w a g: m" N Y 3N g M Q m nn r: 2

UNITED "sures PATENT OFFICE. t

'Josnmr w. JONES, or new max, in;

onomn'rnn.

1 Doma n,

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oer. 17.71911.

'Orlginal application filed August 7-, 1908 serial No'. 447,447. Divided and this application flied October 4,

- 1909. Seriai No. 530,848.

To all whom it may concern:

"Be it known that I, Joani'n W. Joune, o

' New York, N. Y., have invented a new and useful Improvement in ()tlumeters. which 5 invention is fully set forth in the following specification. This is it division of my August 7th, 1908, Serial No. 447,447.

My invention relates tonppuratus for in- 10 (limiting speed and distance traveled, and

tiouwith the accompanying drawings illus v trailing what] now he ieve' to be the prefori'ed cu'lhodiment thereof. V

'lfigtl|'e 1 is a face elevationof the compleic iipparatus; Fiii) 2 is a similar View with orient the eor'er and dial plate broken W u way overuse-=11; the irelalii e os inning of the"on-ailuppingnlnueral dis Fig; 3

isun ilei atiou' of [he -complete u lparatus ltiok i'ng'hpward" in Fig; '1, and showing in" dotted outlinesome of the parts within the m casing to illuslrute the relative location of "the,s1ieeiliiiiuet'er uiet'lniiiism and the'lodomctel nieeh' i ism; Figs. 4 and have detail vieirsof sp igs' Tor ning part of the mechanisni; FiQI l' a plan 'view of the 'iulometer -;lll (ill:ll'lllll liillitlvtld from the eas ng; Fig, '7 is n11] edgo 'view of the same; Fig-8 is an elevation of, Jartof the same mechanism 40 fi'onrihc und ersidt; of Figfiir Fi gi 9f is-a lrjansrerse'sectionitiuliine .L-i) of hig'ti; 1: ,Ifl'ig J Oj'isu detail View oi the plunger for ri-hu-ni tig then'unieral fill-Hits to tl-teir zero positions, itsrestoringsming and'neighhor- 5 in peruon oftlie casing; and Fighll is a det'iill "(if aa'rtof the mechanism shown in hi l i l2 is'a seot'ional view illuslriiting' Imrh'culai'ly'an elh'owo'n' the easing and. the driving oonnectmns extending through the same; Fig. illustrutes' ono meihmliii' ioinin to the'cusing the'con'heci 1 ition through which the main shaft o' fjthe. met-llumism"extends, and to which the tuhular elbow inelosiug the beveled gears is 5 joined; Fig. 14 is a detaihperspective of :lm'ilidution filed extends across the open end of the casing,

play openings througi a, two-part ring which forms a part of the connection between the elbow and the 'A fiew words of general ex lanation will facilitate an understanding 0 the more de-' tailed tlesc'riptionto follow. v

'lhe'speedometer mechanism, located pri ncipally m the lower part of the cup-casin beneath the plate 9- Figs. 2 and 3, whic includes an; upright shaft or spindle 74 which is rotated to move an index hand or.- pointer 76 over a graduated dial on thedia'l plate ,the position of this index hand with reference to the figures on the dial in-' dionting the peed being measured. Amaliimum hand is provided adapted to be re tained in position to indicate the highest speed attained. The odometer mechanism;

mounted principally upon the plate 94, is (5 J geared to and driven from -the.main or governor flmft 35 (dotted lilies Fig. 3) of the speedometer mechanism, and includes two series of numeral disksf'the u r series, 'shown 'i'n the drawings as comprising '80. five disks, is driven to indicate the number of miles traveled by a motor vehicle, say for example, during an extendedperiod; or covering a number of trips. One number on each of these five numeral disksris flie -815 played through a corresponding] posi tloned one of anupper series 0 dig. the dial plate; The lower series of numeral disks comprises, .llfl

shown in'the'drawings'three intended .to indicate the "number '0! miles traveled during-n limited period, or a ,"duri a sin lo trip. Means are providegforiexifly and instantaneously returning these disks to theirlerq mition without inter-.- 9e faring with the osl' ions of the iivfe diaki; of the upper series; 'One numeral oneach' of the three disks in the lowei series' is die-1 played through uieorres ndia o e 0 three display openings throu the "lal plece, 1100 (-oming now to a tie iled'deeenption, 20

is a circular cup-like ineloeing dlsinghuving entirely-around the inner sur ace oi its we just-below the 6 )en end of the casing. The 106 plate 94, hereto re mentioned, rests at. its opposite ends on this shoulder-and 1s firmiy secured to the casing by suitably plaped screws, not shown.

are short posts n-t opposite ends of 110 plate 94 for supporting the circular dial plate 23, screws 24, 24, passing through the said dial plate into screw-threaded openings in said posts.

is a glass cover having a beveled edge and secured in an annular frame 26, whichlatter has an interior screw thread adapted to engage an exterior thread about the open end of the casing.

The odometer mechanism comprises parts which will now be more particularly described.

91, Fig. 3 is a worm on the main shaft 35, preferably turned into an enlarged part cast integral with said shaft.

92 is an a right shaft, the upper reduced end of whic projects into an opening 93 (Fig. 6) through the plate 94, eretofore referred to; the lower end of shaft 92 is go journaled to rotateain a seat (dotted lines,

" free end of Fig. 3) on the bottom WEH'nOf the casing. Said shaft has about its periphery longitudinally extending elongated teeth 95 constituting a worm-gear in en agement with the worm 91, whereby the she t 93 is rotated from the main shaft. A driving pawl 96 is pivoted on a pin or stud 97 eccentrically isposed on the upper end of shaft 92. The awl 96 works under and is held in place by 51o large flat head 98 of a pin 99. 100 is a ratchet wheel rotatable on a stud 101 fixed to plate 94 and adapted by the action of the pawl 96 to be advanced a distance of one tooth for each rotation of shaft 92. l v a 102 is a. retainin pawl; a spring 103 connecting lugs on bot pawls 96 and 102 serves .to hold both of them in engagement with? the ratchet wheel.

104 is a disk securedto turn with ratchet; wheel 100. and having thereon a finger 105, which in accordance with the arrangement of numbers on the disks as particularly illustrated in the drawings herein, is adapted to make one complete rotation for every tenth' of a mile traveled, for example, b an automobile to which the device is app ied. This finger 105 is adapted to drive not only the upper series of five numeral disks, but also drives the lower series of three disks independently of the other numeral disks. Each of the upper series of five numeral disks 106 is mounted to turn upon a corresponding stud 107 fixed at its lower end in t e plate 94. Each disk has fixed to turn therewith an upper toothed wheel 108, a lower toothed w eel 109, and (with the exception of the disk at the left, Fig. 6) a disk 110 having an actuating finger 1'. The teeth of all the wheels have rounded edges as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. 1h spring retaining pawl 112 is provided for each of the toothed wheels 109, and by engagement therewith firm] holds the parts in any position to whic they are moved, preventing vibration the manner illustrated in of the vehicle from rotating the disks and giving false indications, and also preventmechanism from efi'ecting an overthrow 0 any particular disk and in this manner giving a. false indication. As illustrated in F ig. 6, and more particularlly in Fig. 4, the five sprin -rctaining paw s 112 are preferabl form in one piece, as by stamping and bending from a single sheet of suitable spring metal, phos hor bronze, for example. In this manner a l of the five spring awls are connected together in one piece, a ording great facility in assembling mechanism of this character, and enabling all of the springs to be secured in position gyl a relatively small number of screws. e finger 105 acts upon the teeth of the wheel 108 of the first disk 106 to advance the latter one tooth say for every tenth mile. There being ten teeth on this wheel 108, a complete revolution of the latter will mg t carryiiig cause its corresponding finger 111 to ena wheel 116 having rounded teeth, and (with the exception of the shaft at the left, Fig. 6) a dis havi a finger 117. Each of the ratchet wheels 15 is engaged by a corresponding s rinlg actuated pawl 118, the outer end 0 sec pawl projectin into a corresponding slot 119 in a longitu inally slidable plate 120. Screws 121, 121, passi through slots 122, 122, in the plate 120 an into t e plate 94,- rovide for longitudinal movement of the p ate 120 against the tension of W] actuating springs 123 which constant y tend to ress t e pawls 118 into engagement with t eir ratchet wheels. As

illustrated in the drawings, the three is rings 123 'for thus acting upon these paw s are preferably formed from asin lesheet of suitable metal, by stampiiig an bending in 1 5. a On the under side of the plate 94 each of the shafts 114 has secured thereon a circular disk 124 having a reduced hub 125 which bears against the under side of the plate 94 (Fig. 9) and occupies a position in a circular chamber or o ening 126' throu h a plate 126, which atter is secured three screws 12'? to the under side {of plate 94.. The inner end of athin 12 and 1B, partly-shown g. 11) is anchored to the engaging the ratchet wheels 1153, pre

end of said 5 ring being bent to form a tooth 129 which is adapted to engage one of a succession ofteeth formed about the inner edge of the circular opening 126 through the plate 120. When the spring 128 beoomes tightly wound, and its corresponding numeral disk 113 continues to be rotated, the tooth 129 at the outer end of the spring will advance its engagement to successive teeth. This will permit repeated and endless rotation of the numeral disks while always maintaining the spring under sutiicient tension. and its outer endsutiiciently anchored by engagemei t of its tooth 129 with one of the teeth of t e opening 126, to permit said spring to rotate its corresponding disk in a rerersedirection in returning it to zero. The direction of rotation of the disks 124 at the lowerend of the shafts 114, when the numeral disks are rotating in a forward direction, that is, in a. direction to indicate increase in the distance of.travel, is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 8. It will be noted that when the disks rotate in this direction the lug 130 on the periphery of each disk we will pass under and lift a correspondingfiut' spring 131, said springs being secured in placeby the screws 12? heretofore mentioned. This movement in the direction of the arrows also keeps the springs 128 tightly wound up on the hubs of the disks 124, continued rotation of the disks causing the outer end of these springs to be dragged'forward into engagement with succeeding teeth in the opening in plate 126, as already explained. The pawls 18, by

springs 128 from rotating the numenal disks in the reverse. direction. Means are provided, however. whereby an individual using the device may release these pawls from cngagement with their ratchet wheels, thus permitting thesprings 128 to come into action'to rotate the disks in the reverse dircction.' In this reverse rotation-witi ch is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows inlig. 8the lugs tilt) finally come into rout act with their corresponding spring stops [31, thereby arresting the-reverse rotation of the disks when the latter come to their zero positions. the lugs 130. being so relatively positioned as to cause the numeral disks to be slgmped in this position.

Thus l at the end of each trip. or at any desired I intervals, the user of the device may return the nu'nuu'al disks ["13 to their zero or st art ing position. v .\s acmtvenicut means for permitting this to accomplished. a plungr! tt-izdniving :1 mil d head passes through an opening in the w l of the casing. and arriowatits inner em a collar 133 adapted upon inward uiovclnen of the plunger to engage a depending arm 34 at one end of sliding plate 120. thereby 'mparting longi tudinal movement to the la er and causing it inturn to move the pawls 118 to such position as to release their corresponding numeral disks to the action of springs 128.

A flat spring 135 (Fig. 10) secured at one 10, when pressure of In an opening throughone side of the circular cup-like inclosi-ng casing 20 there is:

secured a tubular connection 27 which is internally screw-tln-emled for engagement with the exterior -th"r ead of a ball-cup 28. An improved and economical way of securing connection 27 to the casing is illustrated )articularly in Fig. 13; 27, 27 are two pro- Jecting lips on connection 27, adapted to pass into the spaces 20 20' between the ends of inwardly projecting lips 20" 20 of' an opening through the sidewall of the cup- Y casing; whereby when connection 27 is 'iven a quarter of a rotation the lips2'i" wi 1 engage behihgl and bear upon the lips 20' 20". Solder 20 (Fig. 12) is then preferably'applied to prevent furtherrelative rotation l and the parts are thusyseciu'elyand' neatly 1 locked together by what inay be designated a bayonetoint, or an interrupted screwthreud or lll'QtK'll-lllfltfk' connection. It; will of course be understmid that the contact ing surfaces of the lips may one or both ie int-lined to have a cam action, so that the turning of the part 27 in the opening draws it firmly to its seat. Said cup is locket'l in any position to which it is adjusted bypa nut 29 engagi-n' an exterior thread thereon and adaptedto ie seatedagainst thebottom of an annular recess in the outer end of'th'e connection 27. The parts 30, 2-H, of a twopart ring (seelig. 14) each have arrin ward-ly projecting Ii'p or llange' iz engaging a groove 2-53 (Fig. 12%)- which extends coin plctely around the outer wnll of the connection 2-7. Exterior screw threads on theparts' of the two-part ring register at their ends 5 l when the parts of theriug are relativelypw sition'cd a mut the outer end of lliltttlilililitJ- lion 2?. thereby permitting the lnteriorly' screw threaded. end of an elbow 34 to be screwedon to the 'wo-part ring. holding the parts thereof together with t'lu-ir flanges 32 in locking engagementwith the grooios 33.. against the main portion of' Hit" two-part ring the elbow is um-u to the. part 27. and the casing, by a swivel. wh ch permits the elbow to be turned without disturbing the .2 With the elbow turned down firmly relative positioning and arrangement of the parts. the advantage of this connection will be up )arcnt; with the elbow or other part joined to the casing simply by a screw 5 threadconnection, as has been customary heretofore, turning of the elbow caused the screw threaded connection to move the elbow further to 'ard or away from the casing. \Vith a beveled gear shaft. connection, suci as herein illustrated, this interferes with the meshing of the gears. Other apparent advantages of the connection need not he herein detailed.

, 35 is the main or governor shaft of the device, coned or tapered at one end at 36 for engagement with antifriction balls 37 inclosed in a circular hall-cu 38 Fig. 12) a stud 39 centrally positioned on t 1e )ottom of the cup is driven into a recess in the inner wall of the casing 20. A c'a 40 fitting closel over the op'en end of t 1e hall-cup with rictional engagement, retains the balls in place and is 'irovided witlra central opening through w iich the conical end of the 2 shaft projects. It will thus be seen that at its left hand end (Fig. 12) the main shaft is dupported or jourualcdin a hall hearing. At-its right hand end the shaft 35 has a ta iered or frusto-eonieal shoulder 41, 30 the sum ler end of'the shaft heyond this shoulder extending through a central opening in the hall-cup 2H and carrying ahc.\'- eled ear 42 rotating in a chamber within the e how 3-}. The conical shoulder 41 en- 5 gages halls 43 within the cup 28, thereby forming a hall hearing for the right hand end of the. shaft, Fig. 12.

44 is a tubular plug having a screw thread on its'exterior adapted to engage an inter-ignthread at the outer end of the elbow i-i-lz'a ring look not 45 secures the parts agaidst turning when broughtto proper relative position. A shortshaft 46 rotatahly mounted in the plug-l4 carries fixed to its inner end,

45 prefer. ly formed integral therewith, a hoveled gear 47 adapted to mesh with'the beveled gear 42 heretofore. mentioned.

48 is a washer inter )osed between the her-- eled gear 47 and t e inner end of the 5o plug 44.

'1 e outer reduced end of the shaft 46 is formed-with a laterally projecting lug 49, preferably formed integral with the shaft in reducing its end, and the end of the plug 68 44 is interiorly screw-threaded, these provisions being made for effecting connection with a. flexible shaft and its inclosing sheathing in a-manner which need not he. described" in detail herein. The flexible shaft is, in some case of a motor-vehicle, intended to extend to the gearing connections whereby it is to be rotated from' one of the wheels of thevehiele. What I claim is- I a 1 The combination ofa numeral disk or froein shaft and exerting tenaion to 1 ,ooasu' wheel adapted to be rotated in a forward direction to give a desired indication a spring exerting tension to rotate the disk in a rearward llirection while permitting unlimited rotation of'the disk in the forward direction, one end of said spring havin fixed connection to the disk and the other end of said sprin having an anchorage adapted to be shi ed by the forward rotation of the disk; means for retaining the disk in any position to which it is moved. by forward rotation thereof; means opera-' hle to release said retaining means thereby the disk to-be rotated in a rearward direction by said spring; and means for arresting the disk in a zero or starting position when thus rotated by time ring.

The combination of an in icator disk or wheel adapted to be rotated to give a desired indication, a spring exerting tension 35 to rotate said disk to a zero or starting position, one end of said spring having fixed connection to the disk, fixed teeth with which the other end of said spring is adapt; ed to make shifting engagement or ancho1'- age, means for retaining the disk in anyindicating position to which it; is moved, a a release device operable upon said retaining means thereby freeing said disk to the'action of said spring, and means for arresting the disk in a zero or starting position when thus rotated by the spring.

3. The coinbi ation of an indicator disk or wheel adapt l to be rotated to ive a desired indication, a circular chum er,.a coiled spring located in said circular cha1nhot and exerting tension to rotate said disk to a zero or starting position, one end of said spring having fixed connection to the disk, teeth on the peripheral wall of the circular chamber with which the other end of said spring is adapted to make shifting engagement or anchorage. means for retaining the disk in any indicating position to which it is moved. a release device operable upon said retaining means thereby freeing saiddisk to the action ofsaid spring, and means for arresting the disk in a zero or starting position when thus rotated by the sprin V 4. The combination of an indicator disk or wheel adapted to be rotated to give adesired indication, a shaft to which said disk is fixed, a circular chamber, to coiled ring located in said circular chumborphoa *th shaftto a zero or startinposition, d no end of said spring having fix connection totho disk, teeth on the peripheral wall of the circular chamber with which the other and? t of said spring is adapted to make engagement or anchorage, a second fixedon said shaft and covering saidflpr'mfl and its chamber, means for retaining a indicator disk in any indicating p n -r ji- 7 which it is moved, a release device ope upon sam retaining means thereby frcein the indicatorflisk to the action of said spring, and means for arresting the indicator disk in a zero or starting position when thus rotated by the spring.

The combination of an indicator disk or wheel adapted to be rotated to ive a dGSlItl'i indicatioina shaft to which said disk is fixed, a circular chamber, a coiled spring located in said circular chamber about the shaft. and exerting tension to rotate said shaft to a zero or starting position, one end of said spring having fixed connection to the disk, teeth on the peripheral wall of the circular chamber with which the other end of said spring isndapted to make shiftin engagement or anchorage, a second dis fixed on said shaft and covering said spring and its chamber, means for retaining the indicator disk in any position to which it is moved, a release device operable upon said retaining means thereby freein said disk to the action ofsaid spring, an a stop cooperating with said second disk to arrest theindicator disk in a zero or starting position when thus rotated by the spring.

6. The combination of two or more indicator disks or wheels adapted to be rotated in a forward direction to give a desired indication, a spring exerting tension to rotate each dish in a rearward direction while permitting unlimitcd rotation of the disk In a forward direction, one end of each spring having fixed connection to its disk and the other end of each spring having anchorage adapted to be shifted by the forward rotation of its disk, a pivoted pawl for each disk, ratchet teeth with which each pawl cooperates to hold its corresponding disk against rotation by its spring and releasin means common to all of said awls an adapted to be manually operat to swing the same on their pivots out of engagement with their ratchet teeth.

7. The combination of a numeral disk or wheel, means for rotating the same in a forward direction, a spring constantly excrti tension to rotate the disk in a'rearward direction white rmitting unlimited rotation of the disk in t e-forward direction, one end of said spring having fixed connection to the disk and the other end of said springhavin a tooth, a circular series of fixed teeth wit 1 which said tooth on the s; in is adapted to make shifting engagement, t ereby constituting an anchorage adapted to be shifted by the forward rotation of the disk, means for retaining the disk in any position to which it is moved by forward rotation thereof, and means operab e to release said retaining means thereby freeing the disk to be rotated in a rearward direction by said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses-.

JOSEPH W. JONES. Whtncsses Hnxnr llo'm'mnsa, \V. L. Bl-mnnsnsr. 

